Sensor · Spaceborne

ATMS

Compiled from public sources on 2026-06-11. Not independently verified by northrop-grumman.

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Missions → NOAA-20 (Operational) , NOAA-21 (Operational) , Suomi NPP (Operational)

ATMS is a cross-track passive microwave sounder for atmospheric temperature and humidity profiling.

Sensor

ATMS (Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder) is a cross-track passive microwave sounder that combines temperature-profiling and humidity-profiling functions in a single instrument. It operates 22 channels spanning 23.8 GHz to 183.31 GHz, covering oxygen absorption bands near 50-58 GHz for temperature profiling and water-vapour absorption bands near 183 GHz for humidity profiling.^[1] The instrument succeeds the paired AMSU-A and AMSU-B instruments, consolidating their measurement capabilities on the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) platforms.^[2]

ATMS was built by Northrop Grumman and first flew on Suomi-NPP, launched in October 2011.^[3]^[1] It subsequently flew on NOAA-20 (launched November 2017) and NOAA-21 (launched November 2022).^[4] NOAA plans to fly ATMS on JPSS-3 and JPSS-4.^[2] The instrument provides radiance profiles used in operational numerical weather prediction for temperature and moisture retrievals from the surface to the mesosphere.^[2]

Where this fits, supply chain

Compositional position

NOAA-20 ——— this payload

NOAA-21 ——— this payload

Suomi NPP ——— this payload

this ——— NOAA-20 (Operational) flies on

this ——— NOAA-21 (Operational) flies on

this ——— Suomi NPP (Operational) flies on

Sources

[1]WMO OSCAR - Details for Instrument ATMSagency doc2026-06-11
[2]Northrop Grumman - Advanced Technology Microwave Sounderoperator engineering2026-06-11
[3]NOAA NESDIS - Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS)operator marketing2026-06-11
[4]NOAA STAR JPSS - ATMS Instrumentoperator engineering2026-06-11

Cite https://eo-atlas.org/products/sensor/atms Markdown twin → Field definitions →